Locomotive journal box



May 17, 1932. A. F. PHELPS LOGOMOTIVE JOURNAL BOX Filed April 28 1951 affozncq Patented May 17, 1932 ARTHUR FRED PHELFS, 0F BLUEFIELD, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNO R T0 WES ARMATURE 00., OF BLUEFIELD, WEST VIRGINIA LOCOMOTIVE' JOURNAL BOX Application filed April 28, 1931. Serial No. 533,534.

The present invention relates to journal bearings for axles of car wheels and consists in the combinations and arrangements of elements hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the accompanying claims. I

The purpose of the invention is to provide a journal bearing especially adapted for axles of locomotive car wheels of the type employed in working mines, which is flexible and will yield when put to extreme usage as when the locomotive becomes derailed through uneven or spread tracks, or from other cause. And in these emergencies the parts of the bearing will be automatically restored to their original or normal positions.

Summarily stated, the improved journal bearing is characterized in having an upper fixed and a lower yieldable bearing block member engaging the car wheel axle and normally held in bearing engagement through resilient means permitting separation of the bearing parts a sufiicient distance to allow for undue stress to which the axle is subjected and which bearing parts will be automatically restored after said strains are relieved. The journal bearing is further designed with regard to simplicity of construc tion and ruggedness to the end of withstanding all ordinary kinds of mining use or' abuse and which will stand up or give effective service until completely worn out. The purpose is to provide a yielding, strain-resisting, flexible, and unbreakable journal box. The construction disclosed herein shows one adaptation of the underlying principle of the invention and further modifications or adaptations thereof are disclosed in my four (4:) co-pending applications for U. S. Letters Patents on Locomotive journal boxes executed and filed of even date, to wit: Serial Nos. 533,532; 533,533; 533,535 and 533,536.

Outside frame carriages for mining cars do not require flexibility of construction to prevent breakage in their journal boxes or yielding in the lower halves thereof, because, being located at the ends of the axle and outside the track gauge, the degree of angular displacement is so slight under any circumstances compared with the vertical stroke of the journal box in its guides that there is litvertical and never tle or no likelihood of any breakage occurring. Furthermore, outside frame journal boxes are commonly solid castings and become rarely broken, while inside frame journal boxesas herein shown-must be of split or divided type for the purpose of readily assembling on the axles between the driving wheels. In this position the radius of variation in height between the two boxes on the same axle is very short, and, since the normal movements of the journal box in its guides is angular or rotary, beyond very slight limits, this variation sometimes reaches a great angle and tends to spread the top and bottom halves apart, throwing great strain on the clamped halves of the box, which are commonly held together by machine bolts, screws, or lock-pins. Frequently through such stresses the bolts become broken, pins are sheared, or the box is strained completely out of shape. The invention disclosed herein proposes to overcome these disadvantages and to supply a wide felt need for a journal box for inside frame locomotives which will be proof against these inuries.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, wherein p v Figure 1 is a central sectional View, partly in elevation, of the locomotive journal box.

Figure 2 a top plan View thereof. V

Figure 3 an end elevation.

Figure 4 an end elevational view of the lower or movable bearing block, and;

Figures 5 and 6 are top plan views of the movable block and one of its supporting brackets.

Referring to the construction in further detail, and wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the difl'erent figures, the journal box consists of a suitable frame or supporting structure 6 having side portions 7 for mounting in the wheel truck or carriage of the car, and designed to receive the usual upper fixed and lower movable axle bearing blocks Sand 9 respectively, as shown.

The lower bearing block 9 is designed to have free vertical movement within the space '1: VIRGINIA of the support or frame 6, and is also adapted to have restricted angular or rotary-like moion to take up corresponding movements of Zhe axle of the locomotive through deraili ent or other probable cause to which cars employed in mines are constantlysubjected. In such emergencies the invention operates to allow for such extreme usage of the car axle and operates to restore the movable journal part to normal position.

The means supporting the lower bearing block consists of two brackets 10 secured to the underside or base of the support 6 by screw bolts 11, as shown. A lateral extension 12 of each bracket fits within a complementary recess 13 formed in opposite sides of the movable bearing block 9 (see Figures 5 and 6). Each of said members 12 provides a base piece or support for the spring 14 that fits with reasonable closeness in the space, 13 of the movable block. Said springs 14 are adapted to be conveniently inserted into position after placement of the bearingblock 9 and as conveniently removed from position when said bearing block is to be withdrawn, as will be understood.

Each of the springs 14 engages with the shoulder portion 15 of the block member 9 and sustains the same in bearing relation with the axle of the car wheel, and the dimensions of said block portions 15 permit free up and down movements and limited lateral or rotary-like motion of the block within the space provided between the lower side members of the frame structure 6.

It will be understood the journal box herein disclosed is provided with all other essential devices for-mounting the same in posiand restoring to normal position thereof, substantially as set forth.

2. A journal box for railway car axles comprising a suitable support, an upper axle bearing block mounted in the support, a lower axle bearing block movably mounted in the support and provided with opposed recesses forming sustaining shoulders, bracket arms removably mounted on the support and fitting within said recesses, and resilient sustaining means located in said recesses and engaging said shoulders and the bracket arms, said resilient means and bracket arms permitting of limited angular movements of the lower block and restoring to normal position thereof, substantially as set forth.

3. A journal box for railway car axles comprising a suitable support, an upper axle bearing block mounted in the support, a lower axle bearing block movably mounted in the support and provided with opposed recesses forming sustainlng shoulders, a pair of bracket arms removably mounted on the support at the base thereof, said arms having projecting portions fittingwithin the recesses beneath said shoulders, and resilient sustaming means located 1n said recesses and engaging said shoulders and the bracket arms, said resilient means and bracket arms permitting of limited angular movements of the lower block and restoring to normal position thereof, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ARTHUR F. PHELPS.

tion on the truck or corresponding portion of the locomotive, and is likewise equipped with suitable means, for supplying lubricant to the wheel axle bearing in the two blocks 8 and 9, and with the details of which construction the present invention is not concerned.

It will be further understood that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention; and therefore I do not wish to be limited to such features except as required by the claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A journal box for railway car axles comprising a suitable support, an upper axle bearing block mounted in the support, a low er axle bearing block, bracket arms removably mounted on the support and fitting within recesses of the lower bearing block, and resilient sustaining means for the lower bearing block located within said recesses and engaging said bracket arms, said resilient means and bracket limited angular movements of the lower block arms permitting of 

